ES2746301T5 - Bearing package and installation tool - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Bearing package and installation tool

related requests

This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 62/165,291 filed May 22, 2015.

Background

The present invention relates to bearings, and more specifically to a device and method for packing and installing a bearing.

Bearing transportation and installation is sometimes complicated with bearings that are not unitized or are held together by their own components. Specifically, some bearings include an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements between the inner and outer rings. When the bearing assembly is not otherwise matched, or held together, the outer ring can move relative to the inner ring and roller assembly, resulting in possible damage to the seal and/or inner ring and/or or the cage.

DE 102010038990 describes an axle bearing device in which a bearing is retained in a socket-shaped part of a clamping unit by means of a disc-shaped support unit which is connected to the clamping unit with a bayonet fixing to retain the bearing between them.

Compendium

The present invention provides a device for packaging (ie holding and transporting) and installing a bearing assembly that cannot be unitized.

The invention provides a device for holding and installing a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly includes an inner ring having an inner ring axial face, an outer ring having an outer ring axial face and an outer diameter, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner ring and the outer ring. The device comprises a bushing having a first end with an opening through which the bearing assembly can be received in or withdrawn from the bushing, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore sized and configured to receive and hold the ring. along the outside diameter and a disc positioned inside the bushing. The disk includes a disk outer diameter sized and configured to allow sliding of the disk along the bushing inner diameter in an axial direction of the bushing, and a disk face surface facing toward the first end and sized and configured to engage the axial face of the inner ring, or the axial face of the outer ring, or both when the bearing assembly is received in the bushing.

In the invention, the bushing includes a plurality of spaced ribs that extend axially along the bushing, the ribs collectively defining the bore of the bushing such that the bore of the bushing is configured to intermittently contact the bushing. outside diameter of the outer ring. The disk and bushing may initially be molded of plastic as a single piece, and a cutting feature is molded between the disk and bushing to facilitate separation of the disk from the bushing when a force is applied to the disk.

The invention also provides a method for installing a bearing assembly in a housing using a device for holding and installing the bearing assembly. The device has a bushing with an inside diameter sized and configured to receive and hold the bearing assembly, and a disc positioned within the bushing. The disk includes a disk outer diameter sized and configured to allow sliding of the disk along the bushing inner diameter in an axial direction of the bushing, and a disk face surface sized and configured to engage the bearing assembly when The bearing assembly is received in the bushing, where the bore of the bushing includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs that extend axially along the bushing, the ribs collectively defining the bore of the bushing. The method includes aligning the bushing of the device with the housing in which the bearing assembly will be installed, applying an axial force to the disk in a direction toward the housing, causing the axial force to cause the disk and bearing assembly to slide into the housing. bushing into the housing, and out of the bushing and into the housing, and remove the disc from inside the housing, leaving the bearing assembly installed in the housing.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a device for holding and installing a bearing assembly.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates the device of Figure 1, shown with a bearing assembly attached thereto.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figures 5-7 illustrate a method of installing a bearing assembly initially retained within the device of Figure 1 within a housing.

Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a device for holding and installing a bearing assembly.

Figure 9 is a perspective front view of the device of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a partial sectional view of the device of Figure 8 illustrating the operation of a cutting feature.

Detailed description

Before embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or developed in various ways.

Figures 1-7 illustrate a device 10 for holding and installing a bearing assembly 14. The device can be used to pack and transport the bearing assembly 14, and can further be used to install the bearing assembly 14 in a housing 18 (eg a wheel hub - see Figures 5-7).

As seen in Figures 3-7, the illustrated bearing assembly 14 is a non-unitized rolling element bearing as is known to those skilled in the art. Bearing assembly 14 includes an inner ring 22 having an inner ring, an axially oriented axial face 26, and a raceway 30. The bearing assembly 14 further includes an outer ring 34 having an outer ring, an axially oriented outer axial face 38, which in the illustrated embodiment, is defined on an extension 42 of the outer ring 34. The outer ring 34 further includes an outer surface 46 defining an outer diameter of the outer ring 34, and a raceway 50. A plurality of rolling elements 54 (eg rollers) are positioned between the inner and outer rings 22, 34 on the respective raceways 30, 50. In the illustrated embodiment, a cage 58 is provided to maintain the relative spacing between the rolling elements 54. A seal or seal assembly 62 is also placed between the extension 42 of the outer ring 34 and a rib 66 of the inner ring 22. The illustrated bearing assembly 14 is not unitized, which means that the bearing assembly 14 does not hold together and the outer ring 34 can move relative to the inner ring 22 and roller assembly, resulting in possible deterioration of the bearing. seal and/or inner ring and/or cage.

The device 10 includes a bushing 70 having an inside diameter 74 sized and configured to receive and hold the outer ring 34 along the outside diameter of the outer surface 46. The illustrated bushing 70 is generally cylindrical (shown with a slight taper along its outer surface) and tubular to conform in shape to the cylindrical outer surface 46 of outer ring 34. The bushing 70 includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs R (see Figure 2) that extend axially along at least a portion of the bushing 70 and that collectively define the inner diameter 74 of the bushing 70 such that the radially innermost surfaces of the ribs R engage and hold the outer ring 34 along its outer surface 46. Although eight evenly spaced R ribs are illustrated, in other embodiments, the number and spacing of R ribs may vary. Furthermore, the geometry of the ribs R can take other shapes, such as semicircular or other cross-sectional geometries. Ribs R also function to relieve stresses (eg, ring stress) on bushing 70 when bearing assembly 14 is received therein. The innermost surfaces of the ribs R are sized to provide a tight fit around the outer ring 34 when the outer ring 34 is positioned within the bushing 70 while also ensuring that contact with the outer surface 46 of the outer ring 34 is circumferentially intermittent instead of continuous around the entire circumference. In addition to relieving stress on bushing 70 as mentioned above, this can also facilitate the ability of bearing assembly 14 to slide within bushing 70.

The axial length of bushing 70 can be shorter than the axial length of outer ring 34, as shown, or if desired, it can be equal to or longer than the axial length of outer ring 34. The bushing has a first end 76 open to receive the bearing assembly 14 therein. The bushing further includes a second end 78 having a shoulder 82 that extends radially inwardly from the bore 74 such that an opening defined in the second end 78 is smaller than the open opening defined in the first end 76. The bushing 70 may be made of molded plastic or other suitable materials. The wall thickness of the gland 70 can be varied as desired based on packaging requirements.

The device further includes a disk 86 positioned within bushing 70. The disk may also be made of molded plastic or other suitable materials, and in the illustrated embodiment is a separate piece from bushing 70. Disk 86 has a radially outer surface 90 which defines an outer diameter of the disk sized and configured to allow sliding of the disk 86 along the inner diameter of the bushing 74 in an axial direction of the bushing 70. A snug fit can be used whenever relative slippage can occur. In In the illustrated embodiment, outer surface 90 has a slightly smaller diameter than inner diameter 74 as defined by the R ribs. In other embodiments, outer surface 90 could include cutouts or notches that correspond in shape to the cross section of the R ribs. in such a way that the disc 86 would slide inside the bushing 70 as guided and without rotation due to the interaction between the ribs R and the corresponding cutouts.

The illustrated disc 86 further defines a disc face surface 94 sized and configured to engage at least one of inner ring axial face 26 and outer ring axial face 38 when bearing assembly 14 is received and held by the bushing 70. The surface 94 of the disc face includes recesses 98 where material (eg, plastic) has been removed to reduce the amount of material needed for the disc 86, while providing areas of thickened material for greater strength and rigidity. Disc 86 further includes a disc pressure surface 102 opposite disc face surface 94 . The pressing surface 102 of the disk has a flat portion 106 configured to receive a pressing tool (eg, a tubular member such as a pipe or other metal tube), and a non-flat portion 110 radially inward of the portion 106. flat. The flat portion 106 is at or adjacent to the outermost radius of the disk 86 to favor the application of the pressure force F (discussed below) at this location. Text or other indicia 114 may be provided on the flat 106 as explicit instructions for the user to apply the pressure force on the flat 106. The illustrated non-flat portion 110 tapers toward the surface of the disc face 94 to create a radially inward concavity of the flat portion 106. This concavity discourages and/or prevents the application of pressure force in this location. However, in other embodiments, the entire pressing surface 102 of the disk could be flat.

The illustrated disk 86 is annular in shape. In other embodiments, disk 86 need not be annular. In addition, the disc 86 could engage both the axial face 26 of the inner ring and the axial face 38 of the outer ring, instead of only the axial face 38 of the outer ring as shown. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, disk 86 abuts shoulder 82 adjacent second end 78 of bushing 70 such that shoulder 82 limits axial movement of disk 86 in a direction toward second end 78, but allows axial movement of disk 86 within bushing 70 toward first end 76.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bearing assembly 14 can be received and secured within the device 10 for storage, transport and handling. When the bearing assembly 14 is housed in the device 10, the bushing 70 tightly encircles the outer ring 34, and the disc 86 engages or bears on the axial face 38 of the outer ring, and perhaps even on the seal 62. As mentioned above, in other embodiments, disk 86 may also engage axial face 26 of the inner ring. Together, bushing 70 and disc 86 cooperate to unify bearing assembly 14 and prevent damage caused by relative movement of bearing assembly components.

Device 10 can also function as an installation tool to install bearing assembly 14 in housing 18 from within device 10. Figures 5-7 illustrate the use of device 10 as an installation tool. The illustrated housing 18 is a wheel hub in which the bearing assembly is installed. Of course, the device can also be used to pack and install other sets of bearings in other types of housings. As seen in Figure 5, the first end 76 of the bushing 70 is aligned with an axial face 118 of the housing 18, adjacent to a bore or cavity 122 in which the bearing assembly 14 will be installed. Because the illustrated bushing 70 has a shorter axial length than the outer ring 34 (and the entire bearing assembly 14), positioning the first end 76 of the bushing 70 against the axial face 118 directs the bearing assembly 14 partially within cavity 122. Next, as shown in Figure 6, an axial force F is applied to disk 86 in a direction toward housing 18. As discussed above, axial force F is preferably provided at portion 106 flat, and may be applied using a pipe, tube, or other suitable device. Due to the engagement between the disc face surface 94 and the axial face 38 of the outer ring, the axial force F causes both the disc 86 and the bearing assembly 14 to slide within the bushing 70 towards the housing 18, and finally out of bushing 70 and further into or move into cavity 122 in housing 18. Axial force F continues to be applied to disc 86 until bearing assembly 14 reaches its final installed position within cavity 122, as shown. shown in Figure 7. Disc 86 is then removed from cavity 122 in housing 18, leaving bearing assembly 14 installed in housing 18. The removed disc 86, along with bushing 70, can be reused, recycled or discard.

While the embodiment of Figures 1-7 illustrates bushing 70 and disk 86 as separate components, in an alternate embodiment of the device 10a shown in Figures 8-10, disk 86a is initially integral with bushing 70a and can be separated. of the bushing 70a to allow sliding of the disc 86a along the inner diameter 74a of the bushing in the axial direction when it is time to install the bearing assembly 14 using the device 10a. As illustrated in Figures 8-10, the disc 86a and bushing 70a are initially molded of plastic or other materials (similar or different) as one part, and one or more cutting features 126 (eg, perforations, a thinned wall portion, one or more lugs, etc.) between disk 86a and bushing 70a to facilitate separation of disk 86a from bushing 70a upon application of a force to disk 86a. In yet another embodiment, the initially separated disc 86 and bushing 70 could be secured (attached, adhered, or otherwise secured) together such that an application of axial force is required to separate disc 86 from bushing 70 to begin movement. disc 86 relative to bushing 70. Separation could include breaking the adhesive or bond, which could be considered cutting features, or breaking or deforming other cutting or breaking features.

With reference to the device 10a shown in Figures 8-10, similar parts have been given similar reference numerals to the device 10 with the addition of the suffix "a". Similarities in parts and similar features will not be discussed again, as they were discussed above with respect to device 10. Only differences between devices 10 and 10a will be described in detail.

For example, bushing 70a does not include a flange to limit movement of disk 86a in one direction. Because disk 86a is initially integral with bushing 70a (eg, molded as a single part with 126 cutting/pin features), a flange is not required to initially limit movement of disk 86a relative to bushing 70a. . Instead, tabs 126 initially secure disc 86a in position with respect to bushing 70a. As shown, eight lugs 126 (ie, integrally molded) are provided on the outer surface 90a of the disc 86a and/or on the inner surface of the bushing 70a. The tabs 126 are positioned between the ribs Ra so as not to interfere with the axial sliding of the disc 86a after the tabs 126 break (shown in ghost form in Figure 10 ) to allow movement of the disc 86a within the bushing 70a. As best seen in Figure 8, the disc 86a is abutted in the bushing 70a in an axial position spaced apart from both the first and the second ends 76a, 78a of the bushing 70a. The initial spacing of the disc 86a from the second end 78a allows the user to select a press tool (eg, a pipe or tube) with the appropriate outside diameter by ensuring that the press tool fits the opening in the second end 78a and within the inner diameter 74a.

In this alternate embodiment of device 10a, bushing 70a and disc 86a are initially formed as one piece and thus connected to each other, or in other alternatives where disc and bushing are separately formed as two. pieces but are initially secured together, application of the axial force F to the disc 86a as shown in Figure 10 breaks the cutting feature 126 (eg, perforations, a thinned wall portion, one or more lugs, an adhesive, etc.) initially connecting disk 86a and bushing 70a to allow disk 86a to move in a piston-like manner with respect to bushing 70a. The rest of the bearing assembly installation method described above is the same.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims (13)

1. A device (10) for holding and installing a bearing assembly (14), the bearing assembly (14) includes an inner ring (22) having an inner ring axial face (26), a ring (34) having an axial face of the outer ring (38) and an outer diameter, and a plurality of rolling elements (54) positioned between the inner ring (22) and the outer ring (34), the device (10) comprises: a bushing (70) having a first end (76) with an opening through which the bearing assembly (14) can be received in or withdrawn from the bushing (70), a second end (78) opposite the first end ( 76), and an inner diameter (74) sized and configured to receive and hold the outer ring (34) along the outer diameter; and a disk (86) positioned within the bushing (70), the disk (86) includes, a disk outer diameter (90) sized and configured to allow sliding of the disk (86) along the bushing inner diameter (74) in an axial direction of the bushing (70), and a surface (94) of the face of the disc facing the first end (76) and dimensioned and configured to engage the axial face (26) of the inner ring, or the axial face (38) of the outer ring, or both when the assembly (14) bearing is received in the bushing (70) where the inner diameter of the bushing (70) includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs (R) that extend axially along the bushing (70), the ribs (R) collectively define the inner diameter (74) of the bushing (70) of such that the inner diameter of the bushing (70) is configured to intermittently contact the outer diameter of the outer ring (34). The device of claim 1, wherein the disk (86) is annular in shape. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the disc (86) is initially a separate component from the bushing (70). The device of claim 3, wherein the bushing (70) includes a shoulder (82) extending radially inwardly from the inside diameter, the shoulder (82) operable to limit axial movement of the disc (86) in one direction. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the disk (86) is secured to the bushing (70) and is detachable from the bushing (70) to allow the disk (86) to slide along the inner diameter of the bushing. in the axial direction. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the disk (86) is initially integral with the bushing (70) and can be separated from the bushing (70) to allow sliding of the disk (86) along the inside diameter. of the bushing in the axial direction. The device of claim 6, wherein the disc (86) and bushing (70) are initially molded of plastic as one piece, and wherein a cutting feature (126) is molded between the disc (86) and the bushing (70) to facilitate separation of the disk (86) from the bushing (70) upon application of a force to the disk (86). The device of claim 7, wherein the cutting feature (126) includes a plurality of tabs positioned around the outer diameter of the disc. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the disc face surface (94) includes recesses (98). The device of any preceding claim, wherein the disk (86) further includes a disk pressure surface (102) opposite the disk face surface (94), the disk pressure surface (102) disc has a flat portion (106) configured to receive a pressing tool. 11. A method for installing a bearing assembly (14) in a housing (18) using a device (10) to hold and install the bearing assembly (14), the device having a bushing (70) with a diameter (74 ) interior dimensioned and configured to receive and hold the bearing assembly (14), and a disc (86) placed inside the bushing (70), the disc includes an external diameter (90) of the disc dimensioned and configured to allow the sliding of the disk (86) along the inner diameter (74) of the bushing in an axial direction of the bushing and a surface (94) of the disk face sized and configured to engage the bearing assembly when the bearing assembly (14) is received in the bushing (70), where the inside diameter of the bushing (70) includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs (R) that extend axially along the bushing (70), the ribs (R) collectively define the inside diameter ( 74) of the bushing (7 0); the method comprises: align the bushing (70) of the device with the housing (18) in which the bearing assembly (14) will be installed; apply an axial force to the disk (86) in a direction toward the housing (18), causing the axial force to cause the disk (86) and bearing assembly (14) to slide inside the bushing (70) toward the housing (18 ), and that comes out of bushing (70) and enter the housing (18); and remove the disc (86) from inside the housing (18), leaving the bearing assembly (14) installed in the housing (18). The method of claim 11, wherein the application of axial force to the disk (86) breaks a shear feature (126) that initially connects the disk (86) and bushing (70) to allow the disk ( 86) to move relative to the bushing (70). The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the disk (86) further includes a disk pressure surface (102) opposite the disk face surface (94), the pressure surface (102) having of the disc a flat portion (106), the method further comprises applying the axial force to the flat portion (106) of the pressing surface (102) of the disc.